Local experiences in business development, economic growth, and real estate investing can help to inform State and Federal policies that can respond to local challenges and provide grant opportunities to address those challenges.

The South Norwalk Community Development Plan, completed in 2025, provides a comprehensive

matrix for policy recommendations and implementation guidelines. The agency will work with the identified lead and co-departments to implement recommendations to improve the quality of life for residents of South Norwalk in the areas of land use and open space, environment and climate, local business, health and safety, transportation and mobility, housing and real estate, and community services..

Advance digital equity across Norwalk by ensuring that all residents can fully participate in civic, economic, and educational life. The Agency and City will pursue a comprehensive strategy that includes affordable broadband, access to appropriate devices,

and multilingual digital literacy training. Public WiFi will be expanded. Targeted outreach will be prioritized in neighborhoods where digital disparities are most concentrated. A citywide survey and outreach campaign will be used to identify specific barriers to adoption and guide equitable resource allocation.

Grant Management

Create a unified approach to managing local and regional funding by coordinating efforts between the Agency, City, and WestCOG. Streamline processes and improve collaboration among the three entities.

Engage with state and federal agencies to align local projects with broader priorities. Establish regular communication channels to stay informed about funding opportunities, policy changes, and strategic initiatives. Advocate for Norwalk’s needs by actively participating in state and federal planning discussions and submitting coordinated proposals.

Cities face challenges that demand coordinated, scalable solutions. Rather than duplicating efforts in isolation, cities can collaborate to define challenges, pool resources, and align strategies while retaining local autonomy. Norwalk will form partnerships with peer cities, public agencies, private-sector innovators, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations to unlock the full value of urban data.

Norwalk will engage in collaborative innovation by co-developing and prototyping solutions with public, private, and institutional partners. This approach enables new technologies to be tested in real-world settings, ensuring they are adaptable and scalable. To support this work, the Agency will

leverage an open-source data platform that allows for integration of tools, data sharing, and coordination across systems. Norwalk will serve as a leader amongst municipal technology by promoting continuous learning, cross sector collaboration, and more effective smart city implementation by embedding this model into operations.

Norwalk will pursue a diversified funding strategy that blends traditional government sources with emerging, partnership-based financial models. While state and federal grants remain critical pillars of support, the Agency will also engage educational institutions, private sector partners, and philanthropic organizations to co-develop funding proposals and explore non-traditional investment options. These collaborations can unlock resources that align with mutual goals in innovation, equity, and sustainability. By working closely with universities and tech companies, Norwalk can strengthen its proposals for competitive programs.